Specialist nurses in Scotland can now perform forensic medical examinations on survivors of rape and sexual assault and give expert opinion evidence in court. This policy change, approved by the Lord Advocate in March following a government-funded pilot, addresses historical workforce shortages and expands access to trauma-informed care, particularly in remote and rural regions.
Rollout of Nurse Sexual Offence Examiners Across Scotland
Specialist nurse sexual offence examiners are now operating across Scotland to support and examine victims of sexual violence. Previously, only doctors were legally permitted to gather forensic evidence admissible in Scottish courts.
Public health minister Maree Todd described the transition as a significant milestone for sexual assault response services. “The hours after a sexual assault are some of the most difficult a survivor will face,” Todd said, noting that the expanded role ensures survivors receive care from compassionate, highly trained professionals.
Implementation of the national rollout is proceeding incrementally as individual health boards integrate the nurses into their existing workforces. Candidates for the role must complete specialized training through the postgraduate advanced forensic practice course at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh, alongside ongoing practical forensic skills laboratories funded by the Scottish Government.
Improving Access and Patient Choice
Campaigners and health officials emphasize that the introduction of nurse examiners directly addresses long-standing barriers to reporting and care. A 2017 report by HM Inspector of Constabulary in Scotland indicated that local services lagged behind other parts of the UK, prompting the creation of a dedicated task force.
Alev Taylor, chief executive of Rape Crisis Scotland, highlighted that access to a female doctor was previously a primary concern for service users. While survivors historically held the right to request a female examiner, shortages often meant enduring long waits or undergoing examinations by male clinicians. “Many women are told that they can have a female doctor but only if they wait, so they are faced with the impossible choice of not being able to wash for days or going ahead with a male doctor,” Taylor explained.
The addition of nurse examiners expands the available workforce, allowing health boards to better meet a patient’s right to request an examiner of a preferred sex. Island and rural communities that previously relied on private forensic doctors can now utilize resident specialist nurses.
SARCS and Evidence Preservation
Victims can access these specialist services through regional Sexual Assault Response Coordination Services (SARCS), which accept both police referrals and direct self-referrals without requiring an immediate police report. For example, the West of Scotland Sexual Assault Referral Coordination Service evaluates roughly 600 individuals annually.
Dr. Deborah Wardle, lead consultant for the West of Scotland service, emphasized the importance of patient autonomy during the forensic process. “When something like this has happened it can be completely overwhelming,” Wardle said. SARCS facilities can securely store biological forensic samples for up to 26 months, giving survivors breathing space to decide whether to officially report the crime to law enforcement.
Kirsty Arnaud, a patient advocate for the SARCS network, reinforced the psychological importance of timely, trauma-informed support. “Disclosing sexual assault is one of the hardest things a person can do,” Arnaud said. “It takes a considerable amount of courage and strength to attend a SARCS.”
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